Dr. Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), met with Dr. Abdulelah Al-Tokhais, the Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to UNESCO, at the organization's official headquarters in Paris, France. The meeting was also attended by Eng. Hussam Al-Turki, Director of the Saudi Geoparks Initiative, and Dr. Mohammed Mufarreh, Director General of the General Department of Investment at NCVC.
The meeting was part of Dr. Al-Abdulkader’s official visit to Paris, where he is leading the Saudi delegation in conjunction with UNESCO’s announcement of the inclusion of North Riyadh Geopark and Salma Geopark in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
The discussions celebrated the milestone achieved by the Kingdom in having two geoparks officially recognized by UNESCO within a single year. Both North Riyadh and Salma were approved based on their initial submissions, highlighting the Kingdom’s rich geoheritage and its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and preserve natural and cultural assets.
The two sides also explored pathways for nominating additional geological and natural sites to the UNESCO Global Geoparks, reviewing the key procedures and collaborative mechanisms required to realize this national priority.
UNESCO had earlier announced on Thursday the addition of North Riyadh Geopark and Salma Geopark to the UNESCO Global Geoparks, further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s global role in protecting geological heritage and promoting sustainable development.
Saudi Arabia aims to have 13 sites recognized by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. The NCVC is leading efforts to develop and protect these sites in support of environmental conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable tourism growth.
